Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-05-19
LOVE AND MONEY.

In one room, scarcely a home, since
it was fashionable boarding house,
Frank Alden and his warm, true
friend, Ralph Wilton, discussed the
catastrophe.
It does not quite beggar me, Frank
was saying, although it leaves me
sS0,Goo peOrer than L WAS yesterday.
| suppose--the words came very slow
ly now-I ought to lease Carrie
Mapleton form her engagement.
She is not the girl ! believe her to
be if she accepts the release, was the
quick reply. Were you going to
Walnut Hill this evening?
No. | will write.
A knock at the door, followed by
the appearance Of servant holding a
note. interrupted the conversation.
Breaking the envelope open, Frank
read the tinted page, and, smiling Bit
terly said:
Read that, Ralph, and lose your
sublime faith in womankind.
1t was brief note, stating in con-
sequence Of the failure of the Reliance
Bank and the changed circumstances
involved thereby, the writer did not
consider it prudent to abide by an
engagement made under more favor
able auspices, and 30 released Mr..
Alden from his promise.
She might have given me time to
act the part she anticipates, said
Frank, hastily scrawling a reply. So
ends the chapter.
Had the gentleman in his anger
possessed clairvoyaut powers, he would
have seen in the drawing-room at
Walnut Hill little figure pacing up
and down, and a sweet, matronly
woman, in close widows weeds,
watching the pale, agitated face. He
would have heard a clear voice, pain
fully shaken, say:
Mamma, | wrote to Frank. | do
not think he really cares for the $780,
900 Grandfather Banks left me, but
since it is all gone, I thought it only
honorable TO write to him and release
him.
You will have more than that Car
rie, when l die.
Hush hush l never want it
But | am glad papa's money was not
in that hogrid bank. Still the other
was my very own, and Frank may
have counted upon a rich wife.
| mijudge him, dear, if he allows
the loss to influence him. Who took
your note?
James. lie has had time to go and
return. | hear his voice now. 1t
was cold, trembling hand that tore
open Franks hasty note, and blue
eyes, dim with tears, read the con-
tents:
You are quite right. When poverty
comes in at the door love flies out of
the window. An old proverb suiting
our case to a nicely.
That was all.
He need not have insulted me, said
Carrie, angrily. That is all a mans
love is worth.
Then she sped away to her own
room TO hide her bitter tears. For
she loved Frank Alden with her whole
true heart.
| suppose he knows papa left every
thing to mamma, she thought, and if
she marries again, or is displeased with
me, she can leave her money where
she Pleases.
And Frank Alden, with his heart
as full of bitterness, packed a trunk
and joined his friend Ralph Wilton
in journey to the West, to invest
the remnant of his fortune in a
speculation.
1t had been in binding these two
hearts together, and Mrs. Mapleton
hoped Carries grief would be as
short-ived as that summer of love.
But she was grieved to note that the
girl seemed to grow hard in her re-
sentiment. She was more than pretty,
though very slender and fairy-like,
having a pure blonde beauty and
fascinating manners.
1t was the first season she had been
in society. when she met Frank Alden
at Newport ami gave him her pure
young heart. ~,
But afterwards she< lived for four
years in a vortex of gayety, and en-
loyed the unenviable reputation Of q
totally hesEtless firt. She had lost
the girlish freshness that had made
her so attractive to Frank Alden, and
had acquired a hundred bewildering
charms that dazzled the admirers who
followed wherever she led.